I Can't Poo! and other unwanted physical reactions to fasting

As we prepare our hearts for the upcoming time of fasting, we also need to prepare our bodies and understand that when we have an extended period without food then there are some common physical reactions that we can expect.

I think the first thing that must be stated is that fasting from food is not for everyone. There are certain medical issues where the regulation of blood sugar levels is critical and anyone who has an ongoing medical condition or a medical condition which requires regular medications is best advised to contact their doctor about whether or not fasting is appropriate for them, and if it is, how many meals per day should they miss.

For those of us who have no medical reason not to fast, the biggest obstacle is mental. We don't fast because we don't want to fast. We have never missed a meal without buckling over in two with pangs of hunger (slight exaggeration, but you get the picture). Well, there are some physical reactions that can be anticipated when we deprive our bodies of food and I thought I would give you some practical tips today.

Preparation not constipation - when your body takes food in, it passes through your digestive system visiting various interesting and fun places like the stomach, the duodenum, the colon and finally - well you know what comes next. When the input of food ceases there is nothing coming along the pipes to keep the flow going and motion stops - quite literally. With a prolonged fast there is a possibility that constipation can set in. To avoid this then a few days before the fast prepare your body by adding fruit to your diet, or roughage - salad, bran muffins etc. Preparation is the key. Don't panic if you get to day three and realize that your morning constitution has undergone some reforms with a filibuster in place. Once you begin to eat again, everything will get back on track.

For the caffeine addicts - when you start your fast and you drink your last cup of morning coffee, you will probably experience a headache at some point during the 1st or 2nd day. This is sadly a normal occurrence as your body is craving the caffeine you so regularly feed it. Rest assured that like the constipation, this too will pass.

Hunger pangs - as described in yesterday's blog, there will be hunger pangs and this is mostly because you have a habit of eating at certain times during the day. Your body doesn't necessarily need to have food, it is just programmed to have food. Most of us have plenty of fat reserves to last us through a lot more days of not eating than the 6 we will be undertaking. Some of us even have a little additional stored up from the winter - that's because some of us are smarter than the average bear! When you get hungry, drink a glass of water. When you get hungry, take time to pray. After a day or so the hunger pangs will decrease and even disappear altogether.

Unpleasant social issues - coldness, bad breath, more intense body odor, aches and pains (usually in longer fasts than ours) and changes in sleeping/dreaming patterns have all been identified as potential physical reactions to fasting. Some of these only occur with long term (21 day or 40 day) fasts but you may experience some of them in the 6 days of our fast.

More information is found on this Campus Crusade for Christ International site and you might want to check it out - http://www.ccci.org/growth/growing-closer-to-god/how-to-fast/10-expected-physical-effects.aspx